A federal judge sentenced a New Orleans man to 71 months in prison Wednesday for robbing a Harahan bank four years ago.

The Times-PicayuneU.S. Attorney Jim LettenU.S. District Judge Stanwood Duval Jr. also ordered Damion "Turk" Barnes, 29, to pay $5,000 in restitution, according to U.S. Attorney Jim Letten's office. Duval was appointed by former President Bill Clinton. Barnes will serve three years of supervised released after the completion of his prison term.

Barnes pleaded guilty in June to one count of bank robbery in connection with the Aug. 8, 2005 hold-up of the Whitney National Bank branch located at 6318 Jefferson Highway, according to court records.

Barnes' first stop that morning had been to an Omni Bank branch on Citrus Boulevard in Elmwood. There he tried to exchange a Mexican peso, but left when told the bank no longer handled foreign money.

Less than an hour later, he arrived at the Whitney branch and handed the teller paper bag, the peso and a note which said, "I have a gun don't play no games with me put the money in the bag and you won't be hurt," according to Letten's office.

The teller filled Barnes' sack with money and a dye pack. She also pressed the bank's alarm button.

The dye pack exploded in Barnes' truck as he fled. The pick-up, which had been reported stolen, was found that night in the 1200 block of General Ogden Street in New Orleans. Inside, investigators discovered fingerprints and DNA evidence that was later linked to Barnes.

Michelle Hunter can be reached at mhunter@timespicayune.com or 504.883.7054.